If you were to ask me what one piece of beauty maintenance is my least enjoyed, it would undoubtedly be hair removal. I can happily primp, preen, experiment and pamper but there’s something about shaving, waxing and epilating that’s so dull and laborious; I’ve quite happily gone weeks without reaching for a razor because the effort required to achieve a smooth leg really isn’t worth it – especially during the winter when the extra fuzz provides a little more warmth! Over the years I’ve dabbled in IPL hair removal, but the time it takes to zap a leg (partnered with the pain endured for the pleasure) has put me off and led to the expensive devices lingering on the shelf. However, when HoMedics challenged me to try their Duo Salon IPL in order to get #SmoothForSummer, they promised me it was not only a much more effective solution, but faster and pain free too. My concerns were addressed head on and I was reassured that the device was developed for those of us that are both impatient, and ever so slightly whimpy. I’ve been putting it to the test over the last few weeks and here are my first impressions…

Unlike many other IPL devices I’ve tried, the HoMedics Duo Salon is lightweight and easy to use. Because it’s connected to a base unit, the weight of it is kept to a minimum (ensuring you don’t get arm ache and need to take a rest after each limb,) while the device is incredibly quick to reset: you don’t have to wait more than a couple of seconds between each blast, speeding up the overall process. It takes me around 10-15 minutes to do my legs, while my underarms take practically seconds (and for a woman who has very little time, this is definitely a bonus.) Because it’s so quick, I’ve actually stuck to using it every few weeks in order to catch the hairs as they’re in their growth cycle; although I’m yet to be hair free, I’ve definitely noticed my frequency of shaving has reduced and the hair on my legs is a little more sparse. So far so good!

The biggest selling point for me though? The fact is doesn’t hurt at all; not a smidgen. I’m one of those people that usually jumps with every pulse of light and has to brace herself for the next one (to put it into context, even getting my eyebrows threaded can be a traumatic experience!) but with the Duo Salon IPL I whizz along without a care in the world. It features unique Active Cooling Technology to ensure the skin is cooled and the experience is comfortable (the heat generated by the light pulses travels down to the hair root,) meaning there’s no warmth or sting that’s usually associated with such devices. I have to admit I was really quite skeptical about this feature, but it’s so effective that I’ve been braving much higher settings than I would do usually without even a flinch.

What’s even better is that the combination of Intense Pulse Light and Advanced Fluorescence Technology in a single device means you can tackle the different types of hair found on your body – so the end result is more effective, much quicker and super comfortable. With five light settings to deliver gentle and effective treatments for a variety of skin tones and hair colours (although it’s still not effective on natural light-blonde, red, grey or white hair or very dark skin tones,) as well as being able unwanted hair all over the body (including legs, arms, bikini area, underarms and face) this is a one stop shop to smoothness. The biggest hurdle for me is usually sticking to something for longer than a couple of weeks, but this device is so easy to use that I can’t really make an excuse.

Stay tuned for the end results of my trial in a few weeks!

Check out my introductory post on the Duo Salon IPL (and all its features) here.